SUPPORTED BY: UNICEF; AUSTRALIAN AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT; CANADA FUND FOR LOCAL INITIATIVES; ASSISI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION; PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY; NOTRE DAME UNIVERISTY; AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTAIL ADVISOR ON THE PEACE PROCESS

Two mothers. One widowed by a NPA land mine. The other by AFP soldiers. Both struggling to raise a family. Both struggling with their loss. But now, both talking with one another over hundreds of miles on giant screens.

They will come together in PeaceTech on September 25 – the world’s newest live, mass dialogue for youth.

They are two examples of the women who will unite on screen in front of hundreds of youths: a former NPA fighter who surrendered for her six children; the wife of an MILF commander who hid with her family for one year; and two women peace builders.

“PeaceTech 3: Women in Conflict and Peace Building ” focuses on how armed conflict affects women and the family unit. It then analyzes how women can increase their role in peace making.

This episode is expected to attract even greater numbers of youth as momentum builds for this regional talk show being launched in the Philippines .

A partnership between UNICEF, the Australian Agency for International Development, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the Assisi Development Foundation, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Center for Peace Education of Miriam College is running the series.

GMA 7’s Kara David will emcee PeaceTech 3 from Quezon City . Journalist Samira Gutoc will emcee from Cotobato City .

The 7-part PeaceTech series is leveraging videoconferencing technology to build solidarity and catalyze change through dialogues on a mass scale. Lessons from the talk shows are sustained through regular on-line chats and through community projects.

UNICEF wants to modal the series for a regional talk show that will connect youth from countries divided by conflict. Communications Officer, Dale Rutstein, says: “It is vital that we provide opportunities for young people to express their opinions on the issues that affect them. With PeaceTech we are feeling the power of telecommunication technology to bring together those who remain so far apart on many levels. By focusing this instrument on the young people of the Philippines we are helping to build a foundation of understanding.”

Senator Ramon Magsaysay says: “We badly need this talk show in a world where conflict is increasing. Be it in Lebanon and Israel or Iraq and the United States , the world needs an international medium where young people can unite. PeaceTech does that. It’s an honor that UNICEF, Canada and Australia want to start this in our country!”

The series has many supporters including: the Center for Peace Education of Miriam College; Notre Dame University; the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; the AFP; the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute; the Miriam College Women and Gender Institute; the Department of Education; Youth Aid; Philippine Normal University; Peacemakers’ Circle, the Balay Rehabilitation Center; Brotherhood of Destiny; and numerous community groups, schools and universities throughout the country.